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SO, IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD YET, IT’S GETTING COLD. AND JUST AS SEASONS HAVE THAT PESKY LITTLE TENDENCY TO CHANGE, SO SHOULD YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE. SINCE WE JUST ENJOYED A RECORD-BREAKINGLY TEMPERATE FALL, EVERYONE COULD USE A LITTLE REMINDER ON HOW TO STAY LOOKING YOUR BEST AS WE HEAD INTO THE COLDEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR. FOLLOW THESE SIMPLE STEPS, AND WE PROMISE YOU’LL LOOK YOUR BEST COME (TRIGGER WARNING, SINGLE LADIES) VALENTINE’S DAY.

Winter Beauty Mistake #1

Using the wrong cleanser

Don’t just standby and watch as dry weather wreaks havoc on your skin. Since there isn’t much moisture in the air, use a non-foaming cleanser to rejuvenate your dry skin. These cleansers are super gentle, so if you have sensitive or ance-prone skin, get ready to give your face a little post-holiday pick-me-up gift. The perennial skincare experts at Mario Badescu have got you covered with their Enzyme Cleansing Gel ($24, Ulta.com). Packed with papaya and grapefruit extracts, plus exfoliating acids, this product will leave your skin feeling (and looking!) clean and healthy.

Winter Beauty Mistake #2

Using the wrong lip balm

We used to think that lip balm makers, much like doctors, had to take an oath to only do good and no harm. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Believe it or not, some balms can actually dry out your lips—kind of not the point, right? Stay away from products with the ingredients phenol and menthol—they only provide short relief, require constant reapplication and can actually dry your lips out. We recommend products that are paraben-free and contain moisturizers such as beeswax or cocoa butter. Also, be sure your lip balm is also an SPF (more on that below)! Channel your inner Miley Cyrus circa 2013 and be sure to keep an eos Smooth Sphere Lip Balm ($3.29, Drugstores) in your bag this winter! We also love Burts Bees everything!

Winter Beauty Mistake #3

Forgetting your SPF

Don’t think for a second that you can fall of the SPF wagon just because it’s winter. The sun rays can still do harmful damage during the wintertime, especially to the super-sensitive skin on your face. You want to keep your beautiful self in tip top shape this winter, so look for a BB Cream with a SPF of at least 15 for daily use. If you’re hitting the slopes, lather on even more. We love Clinique’s Age Defense BB Cream ($38, Clinique.com), because not only does it give your skin a boost of powerful antioxidants, works as primer and offers coverage, but it also boasts an SPF of 30.

Winter Beauty Mistake #4

Looking too tan

Not taking a winter vacation this year? We feel you. We also feel that you may want to overcompensate with bronzer, but to avoid looking like you’re going to senior prom, try a more gradual self-tanner. Sure, you don’t want to be the palest girl in the office, but we promise that over-bronzing can look just as silly. There’s nothing wrong with seeking just a hint of healthy glow, so try Elemis Total Glow Self Tanning Cream ($30, TimetoSpa.com). This export from Britain, home to millions of pale girls, provides just the right amount of subtle glow, even after just two hours of application. Made from Macadamia Nut Oil straight from Hawaii, this cream also smells like a tropical paradise, so putting it on is (almost...) just like going on a vacation yourself.

Winter Beauty Mistake #5

Dyeing your hair THE WRONG SHADE

Sure, sure, we know New Year, New You and all that, but dying your hair a cool shade will only make a pale complexion look even more washed out. Instead, opt for warmer shades. We love Clairol Natural Instincts ($8.99, Clairol.com). These DIY, semi-permanent shades are perfect for commitment-phobes, as they give you a shiny, healthy-looking color—but only for 28 washes. Perfect for starting out the New Year on the right foot—or, if your hair coloring attempts crash and burn, at least you’ll be back to your old self by February!

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Editorial Policy

Jeannine Morris receives most of the products she writes about for free through public relations firms, but all postings on JeannineMorris.com are her honest thoughts and not influenced by a third party. If any posting were to be sponsored, it would be claimed within the post.